MUSIC

from VCReporter 5-14-2020

by Times Media Group

COVER

Now Hear This

A fresh crop of promising releases, from power pop to punk

by Alan Sculley

X Alphabetland

Lucinda Williams Good Souls Better Angels

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Just when a lot of fans figured X had reunited as only a touring band, the group has made its first new album in 35 years, Alphabetland. Considering the group’s first five albums still stand as some of the best punk albums ever, X has a lot to live up to on the new album. And Alphabetland delivers on the expectations, as Exene Cervenka, John Doe, Billy Zoom and DJ Bonebrake show they haven’t lost a step (and in fact play better and tighter than ever), while sounding very much like they did in the early 1980s. The foursome proves they can still crank on a pair of hyper-speed songs — “Delta 88 Nightmare” and “Goodbye Year, Goodbye” — as well as the hard-charging “I Gotta Fever” and “Water & Wine” (a song where X’s long-standing rockabilly influence resurfaces). Those are just a few highlights from this consistently strong 11-song outing. Since the original foursome reunited in 2004, their shows had featured songs from the original five albums, and playing back catalog songs can only go on for so long before a band starts to seem like a nostalgia act. Alphabetland proves that X is a living, breathing organism, as rocking, relevant —and good — as ever.

One of music’s best songwriters, Williams has returned with Good Souls Better Angels, an album that cracks open some new ground for this veteran artist. For one thing, this is Williams’ most topical album (although the lyrics, written with her husband, Tom Overby, are often presented from a personal perspective). In “Bad News Blues,” she bemoans the media and the people who shape its messages, with both sly humor and insight. “Shadows & Doubts” takes aim at social media and how it allows for people to quickly judge and change opinions about their targets. “Wakin’ Up” is a harrowing look at domestic violence from a woman who’s fighting her way back. Musically, the new album marks a departure from an overall trend toward balladry that began with Williams’ 2007 album, West. This time out, Williams has stepped back to the down-and-dirty blues roots she showed on her early albums. The bluesy tone gets set with the opening cut, the defiant “You Can’t Rule Me,” a rolling, rough-edged track, while “Down Past The Bottom” is a lyrically bleak rocker so gritty you can almost see dust rise as the song plays. While there are still a few quiet ballads (“Good Souls” and “When The Way Gets Dark”), the shift to an edgier sound is welcome. Good Souls Better Angels is Williams’ most satisfying album since 2003’s World Without Tears, and a spirited reaffirmation of her considerable talents.

Fizz Fuzz Palmyra

Now here’s a duo that really lives up to the description of power pop. On Palmyra, Dandy and Dawn Brown of Fizz Fuzz achieve a huge sound with songs built around big guitars (which by the way, are fuzzfree), deliberately paced powerhouse drums and vocals that stretch toward the heights. What’s also big are the pop hooks that populate such standout songs as “Loose Lips,” “Hereby,” “Dear Old” and “Collapse.” Even a slower-than-slow track like “Shame” becomes a power ballad in the best sense as Fizz Fuzz places the verses within a spare, eerie backdrop that sets up a loud instrumental segment where the guitars and drums rumble to a molten climax. Where most power pop is nothing if not peppy, the way Fizz Fuzz builds sound and drama by slowing things down and supersizing the riffs and other instrumental parts is a novel approach to guitar pop. It’s as if Big Star or the Beatles invaded Black Sabbath, and this seemingly unholy marriage of clashing musical styles turned out more harmonious than anyone would have expected.

Cable Ties Far Enough

Anyone for some electro-synth garage rock? That might be the genre Scotland’s Catholic Action is creating with Celebrated By Strangers. Rather than raucous guitars (although guitars are very much present), the songs here often favor synthesizers or electronic instrumentation. Most of the time, the approach works because these songs have catchy pop melodies, a good energy and instrumental parts and solos that enhance the songs. Just check out the bouncy, cheery hooks and the ear-grabbing instrumental section of the song “Yr Old Dad.” Other tracks (“Sign Here,” “People Don’t Protest Enough”) are pretty addictive with their spry melodies and snappy rock tempos, too. It’s a refreshing change from some electronic and synth acts, which seem more concerned with crafting cool rhythm tracks and finding unique synthetic sounds than writing songs with fully formed melodies and something more than a catch phrase to say lyrically. Thankfully, for as modern as this album sounds, Catholic Action is old school enough to make sure an actual song is at the heart of each track on Celebrated By Strangers.

Catholic Action Celebrated By Strangers

What you think of Cable Ties and Far Enough may have a lot to do with how you view singer Jenny McKechnie. Her wailing vocals sound a bit like Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker or Kristin Hersh — only with perhaps even more force and volume. Often, the powerhouse singing heightens the tension in the music, but she pushes the limits toward distraction on “Sandcastles” and “Anger’s Not Enough.” Usually the vocal lines are melodic enough to carry things, and on songs like “Hope,” “Pillow,” “Tell Them Where To Go” and “Not My Story,” the guitar riffs hold their own alongside the vocals and provide a second dose of melody. Meanwhile, churning bass lines and drums put plenty of horsepower into the songs. It’s a potent combination, and it makes “Cable Ties” an energetic — and frequently thrilling — onslaught of hooky punk-flavored rock. But Far Enough isn’t for the faint of heart.

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Staff favorites streaming now

by VCR staff and contributors

Warren Barrett, sales director Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer, arts editor

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Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: 4/16/20 NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP E ven as the county opens up by small increments, entertainment opportunities remain minimal. Television continues to be a welcome distraction, and we asked VCReporter staff and contributors for their recommendations for quality, though-provoking or just plain fun options to stream right now.

Kimberly Rivers, staff reporter

The West Wing (Netflix) provides a calming escape into a fantasy, fictional government where thoughtful, passionate people are working for the people — all the people — and most problems are solved in under an hour, or a few episodes. There is no supernatural hero to save the day, no dynamic car chases or gun fights . . . just great dialogue, amazing speeches and great acting.

If you like The West Wing, next try Madam Secretary (also on Netflix) where Tea Leoni serves as Secretary of State.

VELA on YouTube. Watch John John Florence sailing and surfing the Pacific.

My 5- and 3-year-old children love Hello Ninja on Netflix Jr. The adventures of a boy and girl ninja and their cat, Pretzel. Also great for little kids is Creative Galaxy (Amazon Prime). Each episode is part cartoon and then it shows real kids doing creative art projects. This show has been inspiring art projects at our house daily.

Cosmic Kids Yoga (YouTube) — yoga made fun for kids with themed episodes like Frozen.

On Hulu, my wife has been watching Little Fires Everywhere. Barbara Kroon, sales rep

I like to watch things that make me laugh. I’ve been continuing my favorites — Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers all doing their thing from home. Even Saturday Night Live was done remotely, which was weird, but still funny. I’ve been watching old Big Bang Theory and Mom episodes because they never fail to make me laugh. And I never miss Jeopardy!

I am embarrassed to admit that I am just now discovering the glory that is NBC’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine. But boy, has it been a salvation (thanks, Hulu!). Whenever I’m down, I can spend a cool 20 minutes watching a bunch of weirdo cops act ridiculous and exchange hilarious one-liners that make me laugh and laugh and laugh.

When I want a more soothing escape: Great British Bake Off (aka Great British Baking Show here in the U.S.) on Netflix. The tent is so charming, the food so “scrummy” and everyone is incredibly sweet and supportive of each other. It always leaves me feeling as warm inside as a freshly steamed Christmas pudding. Tim Pompey, fi lm reviewer and music writer

On Netflix, I’m watching Unorthodox (definitely an insider’s view of life under the burden of Torah) and Freud, a dark and sexually complicated horror series in which the young Freud begins to understand the process of hypnotism. Tales from the Loop on Amazon Prime, about a small Ohio town built around a scientific endeavor known as The Loop, explores various scientific and mystical themes.

Emily Dodi, theater reviewer and art and culture writer

“Keep Calm and Carry On.” Call the Midwife is that sentiment personified. The popular BBC drama follows the lives of the midwives of Nonnatus House and the people they serve in London’s East End in the 1950s and 1960s. They’ve seen it all, and no matter how difficult or heartbreaking a situation is, the women of Nonnatus lean into it with courage, compassion and the unwavering belief that we are all in it together. Old episodes are available on Netflix; new episides (it’s in Season 9 now) are on PBS.org.

Out of the Box is a semi-regular column by VCReporter staff and contributors about television and streaming content. AD PROOF